by Mike Dagons
Janie looked in the mirror at the cut above her eye. She had a plan to explain it, and it was time to put it to the test. “Petro, baby, wake up!” she shouted.
“Yeah, what is it?” he came running. “My God, what happened?”
Janie went into full damsel in distress mode. “I went for a run last night after we made love. I can’t remember anything that happened after I walked out the room. I woke up in bed next to you, dressed in my running gear. I must have taken a fall to get the cut, but I don’t remember.” She was holding a wet towel to her head.
Yeltsin removed her hand and looked at the gash on her forehead. It wasn’t bleeding, but it was a new cut. “I can’t remember anything after we drank that damn whiskey. A single shot shouldn’t have put me under like that. Maybe we were drugged,” he concluded without any further coaxing from her.
“I was dizzy when I woke up,” she lied. “But why would anybody drug us? Oh God, where’s the card?” she shrieked in alarmed.
“Calm down, and let me help you back to the bed,” he kissed her gently, and then guided her out the bathroom and over to the bed.
Yeltsin rushed across the room to the case on the table. He didn’t remember closing it. “Do you remember closing this?” he asked as he entered the code to open it quickly.
“No, I don’t. You think someone took it while we were asleep?”
He opened the card sleeve, and then plopped down on the sofa. “No, it’s here,” he blew a hard whistling breath of air.
“I have an uneasy feeling about all this,” she said before he could fully relax. “Why does he want us to leave at a certain time? And why did the whiskey affect us that way? I want to get out of here now!” she got up, and started throwing her things in her bags.
Yeltsin hurried over to her, and then took hold of her shoulders to stop her. “Take it easy. Everything seems to be okay. We have less than an hour before we can leave. I want you to lay here and rest until then.”
“Okay, but I don’t want you to let that card out of your sight.”
There was a knock at the door, and Yeltsin opened it for Ivan. “There’s something strange going on with the phones,” he said, as he walked in. “I tried to call our people, but I have no bars on my cell.”
“Baby, I think we need to get out of here now,” she whined like she was frightened.
“What is it?” Ivan looked concerned.
Yeltsin took a few minutes to tell him about his suspicions, and he agreed with Janie. “I will pack while you dress.”
“The both of you calm down! We can not leave here until seven, so we’re stuck here for another hour.”
Janie started to cry, and Yeltsin went to her and gathered her up in his arms. “Everything is going to be fine,” he kissed her lightly.
Janie wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him tight. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know how important this is, and I don’t want to be a distraction, but I’m frightened.”
Yeltsin took her face in his hands. He hated seeing her so upset, and he knew it was because she was worried about him.
Basin had quite the reputation. He was a powerful man, but it meant nothing to him. What she didn’t know was his benefactor had promised to supply an army. If they had failed to win the right to buy the card, they were prepared to take it.
“Why don’t we wait downstairs,” he suggested. “That way we’ll be surrounded by people. Will that make you feel more comfortable, Janie?”
“Oh yes, Petro. That’s an excellent idea, baby?” she praised him.
“Alright, then it’s settled,” he smiled. “Ivan, you handle the luggage. We’ll meet you downstairs in a minute.”
Yeltsin started putting on his clothes. Ivan threw the rest of their things in the luggage, and then took it with him.
Janie rested her head on Yeltsin’s shoulder, and then kissed him on his neck. “Thank you for not laughing at my paranoia. I just have a weird feeling about what’s going on here,” she whispered in his ear.
“You don’t need to worry. I contacted the man last night while we were still at the dinner party. He knows about the change in plans. My people are probably already waiting for us at the check point.”
“I think you should keep the card on you instead of in that fancy case. Suppose he put a tracker in it or something?”
“Your mind is always working. I don’t know what I would do without you.” He put the card in his inside jacket pocket, and locked the empty case. “Let’s go,” he took her hand.
“I am more than ready,” she said, and they walked out into the hall.
It was early, but a lot of guests were already up and about. Janie felt like the guards were paying special attention to her, and she worried that her comings and goings last night had put them on alert. She hadn’t planned to come back, so she hadn’t been concerned about it when she left. She lowered her eyes to the floor, and pretended not to notice the stares.
When they reached the entrance foyer, they found Ivan waiting for them with Basin and two of his guards. They weren’t the same two men he had guarding him last night, but they looked just as capable.
“Mr. Yeltsin, you are free to leave anytime you want,” Basin greeted them coldly. Even dressed in Chino’s and a polo shirt, the man looked rich.
“I thought you said we had to wait until seven,” he glanced at Ivan, who immediately placed his hand on the grip of his gun.
“Your men are waiting for you at the first check point, and since they have seen fit to jam our communications. I’ve decided you no longer need my protection. It is better if you leave now.”
Yeltsin handed his attaché case to Ivan, and then stood face to face with Basin. “I don’t know what kind of games you’re playing, but I don’t like it.”
“Oh, I think you do know, and I hope the reason you decided not to keep the card in its security case is not an attempt to perpetrate a fraud at my expense.”
“What the fuck you talking about, perpetrate a fraud—on who?”
“Whoever fronted you the money to bid for it, of course. My guest rooms are under constant surveillance, Mr. Yeltsin. Certain fraudulent antics have been brought to my attention,” he glanced at Janie. “None of it is my concern unless you deny receiving the merchandise. If that happens, it will not end pleasantly for you.”
“Are you threatening me?” he answered calmly.
“I most certainly am.”
Basin’s men raised their assault rifles, and Ivan pulled his gun in response. Yeltsin moved in front of Ivan quickly, and stayed his hand. Ivan was always ready to defend him, but they were seriously outnumbered at the moment. It wouldn’t be wise to get lured into a fight. “There’s no need for the show of force,” he said.
“It’s no show,” Basin answered coldly. “You are no longer welcomed here. Your car is waiting in front.”
“Then we will be leaving now,” he eyed the two guards before he took Janie’s hand and followed Ivan out the door. “That arrogant nigger,” he mumbled, as they walked to the car, which was waiting for them with the doors opened.
The breakfast buffet was set up under two large tents, and the lawn was crowded with people. Janie’s cell vibrated in her pocket. She remembered Ivan said the phones weren’t working, and knew the call had to be coming from Ryan. Bypassing a scrambler was child’s play for Bender.
It wasn’t safe to answer in front of Yeltsin, so she ignored it. Ivan got in behind the wheel, and she climbed into the backseat with Yeltsin.
“Let’s go, Ivan,” he said.
“Did you understand what Basin was talking about? Is the signal jam really coming from our people?” Ivan asked.
“Maybe, but I’m more concerned about his change of heart about giving us safe passage out of here.”
“Maybe he has people waiting to ambush us,” she planted the seed of doubt, and then watched it take root in Yeltsin.
“You know how to work your way around a signal jam?” he asked, and then too
k out his cell.
“Yes, but I’ll need a computer.”
“The security case is a computer. Use it.” He opened it, and put it on her lap.
Chapter 33
I was looking out my bedroom window when I saw Janie getting into the Rolls parked in the driveway. I honestly wasn’t expecting her to come back last night, and seeing her alive had me wondering if Valow somehow missed her.
Something was wrong with my email device, so I hadn’t been able to contact Bender this morning. I watched the Rolls until it turned onto the private road.
I hoped we had the card, but at this point, there was nothing I could do about it if we didn’t.
I sat down to put my shoes on, so I could go downstairs and grab some breakfast before it was time to leave the plantation. I had just placed my hand on the doorknob to leave the room when an urgent knock on the door almost stopped my heart.
I pulled the door open, and Ceylon pushed me back inside. “A problem has come up, and the place is going to be locked down shortly. I’m going to have the pilot fly you out of here before the trouble starts.”
“What about you?” I asked like I was clueless.
“You worried about me?” he looked surprised.
“Yes, if there’s going to be trouble, why don’t you come with me? If you stay here, you may get hurt.”
An amused smile flirted with the corner of his mouth. “It’s my job to handle the trouble.”
“You’re laughing at me?” I smiled.
“Yeah, I am,” he smiled back at me, and my heart fluttered.
“Okay, then promise you’ll be careful.” I wanted to touch him, but I didn’t dare risk it in a room where I knew we were being watched.
“I promise. Now, let me get you out of here, so I can concentrate on doing my job. Hurry up and grab your things.”
I grabbed my jacket and my satchel, and followed him. We ran down the stairs, and then walked through a circle of armed men assembling in the great hall, and rushed out the door.
“Hey, where are you going with her?” Mark caught up with us before we made it to the helipad.
“She’s flying out with Rabbit,” Ceylon replied without breaking stride.
He ushered me around to the side of the house heading for the helipad.
“Hey, wait!” Mark called out to him. “Dad needs to see you right now. I’ll put her on the bird for you.”
Ceylon was hesitant to release my arm. I knew he wanted to see me get on the helicopter himself, but his duty to his client was in direct conflict with that. “Go on, I’ll be okay,” I said reassuringly.
“I’ll be in touch,” he handed me off to Mark, and ran back towards the house.
As soon as he was out of sight, Mark grabbed hold of my arm and shoved a gun in my side. Then he signaled the pilot to take off.
The rotor started spinning, whipping up a fierce wind as it lifted off the ground. “What the fuck are you doing?” I shouted at him over the noise.
“Shut up and walk, or I’ll kill you right here,” he poked me in my side with the gun, and started pulling me along.
I didn’t resist until he started dragging me towards the hedge maze. “Where are we going?” I asked as we walked side by side.
He didn’t answer, and my heart started pounding faster. He had a tight grip on my arm, and he was using the angle of our bodies to conceal the gun. I knew that to the casual observer, it looked like I was going with him willingly.
I didn’t think he’d learned about my connection to Genesis, or he would be taking me to the house to interrogate me, not the hedges. This was something different, and I feared he might be planning to kill me.
I saw myself being executed in that tunnel of bushes, and like a lamb being led to the slaughter, I was too afraid to do anything but follow him. If you let fear bitch slap you, it will bury you. Remembering that bit of advice, I ordered myself to stop quivering and take action.
“Where the fuck are you taking me?” I stopped walking, and pulled against him.
“Into the maze so I can fuck you like Ceylon did last night,” he huffed like an insolent kid angry because somebody else had played with his toy.
I was actually relieved to hear rape was all he had on his mind, and not murder. It would give me the opportunity to fight back, assuming he didn’t want to fuck a dead woman, and was planning to shoot me in the head before he did the deed.
“Oh, is that all?” I mumbled sarcastically.
“Yes, that’s all, whore,” he barked. “Now come on,” he yanked my arm, and I stumbled forward.
“You need to let me go, right now,” I insisted, and then dug my heels in.
Mark stopped trying to drag me, and then pushed the gun up under my jawbone. The muzzle dug into the tender spot under my chin, forcing my head back. “You stop resisting, or I’ll blow your fucking head off right here. Do you understand me, bitch?”
I nodded yes awkwardly, and we started walking again with me matching his pace obediently. Mark Basin was nearly a foot taller, and a hundred pounds heavier than me, but size only matters if he’s taking you to bed. Given my current situation, I almost laughed at the irony of that piece of advice.
I had done a helluva job of posing as a helpless white girl, so Mark believed that it was all that I was. I was hoping his misconception was going to help me get the ups on him.
In certain situations, you will have to allow yourself to be fucked. However, you never have to allow yourself to be fucked up. I was drawing the line at letting Mark Basin fuck me in any sense of the word.
“You are such a fucking hypocrite,” I grumbled.
“Shut up!” he barked.
“Hey man, what the fuck is going on? Why the sudden rush of activity on the ground?” It was Choc approaching fast, and wisely engaging Mark in conversation about the commotion to mask his interference.
Needless to say, Mark didn’t appreciate the intrusion. “You need to return to your room, sir!” he ordered.
Choc’s posture changed when he saw the gun, and his body language telecasted he was about to risk exposure to save me. I shook my head at him in a silent plea to stand down.
The fellas tended to rush to my rescue. I figured it was because they had years of experience under their belts, either in law enforcement or the military, and I had none.
I’d bucked against the protectiveness initially because I felt like I had something to prove. When I complained about them treating me like I was a helpless baby, Blue told me to relax and enjoy being carried. We’ll expect you to do the heavy lifting before long, and every one of us will be happy to put a foot in your ass if you can’t hold up your end.
I’d learned that operating solo was hard. I was proud that I’d been able to make it on my own the past few weeks, but it had taught me to appreciate the safety net of having them there to catch me, and break my fall.
I wasn’t stupid. I knew I was in a real tough spot. It would be easy to rely on Choc to save me. As much as I wanted to do that, I had to consider the consequences. I couldn’t afford to get comfortable with being rescued. I’d signed up for this job, and if I was going to survive in this life, I had to be able to find my own way out of tough situations.
I had hollered for Blue when I was in the water with the Russians, and Choc was ready to rescue me now, but this time, I wasn’t going to ask anyone to jump in and save me. I was going to swim or sink.
“Where you taking the lady?” he asked.
“None of your fucking business,” Mark shouted rudely. “Go back to the house, now!”
Choc didn’t move. His eyes shifted, ever so slightly, and found mine. “Say what?” he asked.
“Ceylon told me that there has been a breech in security,” I responded with a look I hoped told him not to blow his cover.
Choc just stood there looking like he was trying to decide what he should do next. “You care to explain?” he asked Mark.
“It’s nothing for you to worry about. We’re shutting dow
n for a few hours, okay?!” Mark answered impatiently. “Now, please move along.”
“Nigga, your daddy ain’t paying me to fight his battles,” he answered coolly. “If some shit is about to go down. You need to get me the keys to my fucking car so we can get out of here.
He hadn’t shot Mark yet, so his reason for still being there had to be to distract him so I could get away.
“You’ll leave when we say you can leave!” he took his gun off me and sighted Choc. “Now keep standing here talking!” he dared him.
It was time for me to move. While he was preoccupied with Choc, I wrenched my arm free, and dashed into the maze. In the daylight it was easier to navigate, so I was running fast. I knew that one of the exits from the maze led directly to the woods, because it was the way Roc had gone last night.
I ran as fast as I could, turning corners without slowing down, and hoping I hadn’t taken a wrong turn and was heading back to the house instead of into the woods.
Finally, I found the exit I was looking for, and I could see the wall of trees across the narrow clearing of waist high grass. I ran through it trying not to let my feet touch the ground.
Not being able to see my feet was scary, and I was skipping, hopping, and praying I didn’t step on a snake or some other small wildlife creature.
I heard a crackle of dry leaves behind me, and I fought the impulse to look back to see if it was Mark because I was scared I might trip and fall, like the white chicks did in those slasher movies. I just stopped trying to avoid trampling the imaginary creatures underfoot, and ran faster.
I’d been told that Roc and Valow were camping near the river, and there was a dirt path that led directly to it. If I could find the river, I would be safe from Mark Basin.
As soon as I stepped into the woods, the sunlight grew dim, and I understood why they hadn’t wasted manpower guarding the forest. It was dense with giant trees, and the gnarl branches, and creepy sounds, were scarier than men with guns.
